This isn’t the usual Oscar de la Renta, Dolce & Gabbana, or Escada trunk show scene at SAKS Fifth Avenue (700 N. Michigan Ave., First Floor, 312-944-6500, saksfifthavenue.com). On Thursday and Friday, November 1 and 2, SAKS hosts an ethical shopping event with jewelry by Same Sky (samesky.com), a trade-not-aid initiative that employs African women living with HIV and AIDS. What started in 2008 as a team of four has grown to more than 75 women in Rwanda and Zambia, trained as artisans to create and sell hand-crocheted necklaces and bracelets. Shop the collection—which includes hand-blown glass beaded bracelets and necklaces ($160 - $400), prosperity seed bead bracelets ($60 - $110), fabric wrap bracelets ($30 - $40), and cufflinks ($100)—during the trunk show. The sale runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and a cocktail reception with Same Sky’s founder, Francine LeFrak, takes place Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m.

Top Sales This Week

Score up to 80 percent off linens, pillows, housewares, and more at the annual fall warehouse sale at Unison (2000 W. Fulton St., 877-492-7960, unisonhome.com). This weekend’s event runs Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Head to the store’s back entrance (off Carroll Avenue) for access.

Trillium (1744 W. Division St., 773-698-8162, trilliumchicago.com) fêtes its second year in business with good news for non-Wicker Park residents: The boutique, which carries brands like Cynthia Vincent, 360 Cashmere, and Dannijo, launches worldwide with an e-commerce site (trilliumchicago.com) on Friday, November 2. To celebrate, everything in the store will be tax-free and online purchases will ship for free until November 9.

The Best of the Rest

Things are about to get festive around here. Macy’s on State (111 N. State. St., 312-781-1000, macys.com) lights up that great big tree on Saturday, November 3 at 12 p.m. Holiday-ready or not, see it in the Walnut Room on Level 7 and catch a performance by Chris Mann from NBC’s The Voice.

All six suburban Hot Mama boutiques (shopmama.com for locations) host a fall clearance sale beginning Thursday, November 1 through 11, in-store and online. Take an additional 25 percent off previously marked down merchandise. With brands like Hudson, Joe’s Jeans, and AG included, it’s not a bad time to stock up on premium denim.

Vintage dealer Alex Hosler appears at Hazel (1902 W. Montrose Ave., 773-769-2227, hazelchicago.com) on Saturday, November 3 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. for a one-day sale of her vintage jewelry, clothing, bowties, purses, and shoes. Treats and libations will be served.

Comfort Me Boutique (701 W. Armitage Ave., 312-255-1412, comfortmeboutique.com) wants to help cut de-clutter your closet. Professional organizers NEAT Method (neatmethod.com) appear at the boutique for an in-store event on Thursday, November 1 from 6 to 9 p.m. In addition to offering 20 percent off NEAT’s organizing services, everything in the store will be 10 percent off (to fill the holes in that freshly cleaned closet).

Art Effect (934 W. Armitage Ave., 773-929-3600, shoparteffect.com) throws a monogram jewelry and gift sale next weekend, November 9 through 11. Those nameplate necklaces ($75 and up) and monogram pendants ($48-$300) you’ve been eyeing at full price will be 20 percent off.

Spex (2154 W. Roscoe St., 773-525-2022, spexchicago.com) hosts an Art+Vision event on Thursday, November 1 from 5 to 8 p.m. with light bites and drinks. The day’s agenda combines a trunk show of French handcrafted eyewear line Beausoleil with pop art paintings from local artist Amanda Shell.

Openings

Chicago becomes home to the first Zaharoff (110 E. Oak St., 312-285-2100, zaharoff.com) flagship store when the luxury menswear retailer opens its doors on Saturday, November 3. The tri-level space, filled with tailored suits and sports jackets, emits an old-world fashion house vibe, complete with an atelier on the top floor.